After Pence bails, Kari Lake fires up Georgia crowd by saying Republicans have guns – and Trump's back

• After Mike Pence canceled, Kari Lake addressed Georgia GOP supporters.
• Lake said Trump's 75 million supporters would defend him, and most are "card-carrying NRA members."

Hours after federal prosecutors unsealed the 37 charges against former President Donald Trump, failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake delivered a message to his detractors: You'll have to go through us first.

Speaking at a convention of Georgia Republicans, Lake told hundreds of delegates that the "75 million Americans" who voted for Trump are armed and ready to defend him.

"If you want to get to President Trump, you're going to have to go through me and you're going to have to go through 75 million Americans just like me," Lake said, to raucous applause. Most of those Trump voters, she pointedly added, are "card-carrying members" of the National Rifle Association.

"That's not a threat. That's a public service announcement," she said. "We will not let you lay a finger on President Trump. Frankly, now is the time to cling to our guns and our religion."

The crowd responded with a standing ovation, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein.

Lake was tapped to step in for former Vice President Mike Pence as a speaker after he canceled his appearance. On Thursday evening, the night news of the indictments broke, Pence also ducked out of an appearance on Sean Hannity.

"I really should also thank the man who didn't show up tonight: Mike Pence," Lake said. "I hope I'm not being controversial, but my man is Donald J. Trump."